Table 1.

Characteristics of the included studies (N = 21).

Author and year	Country	Sample size Moxibustion arm	Sample size Acupuncture arm	Study design	Acupuncture arm	Moxibustion arm	Duration & Frequency of Interventions	Outcomes assessed	Pain assessment tool
Chen et al., 2020	China	28	28	RCT	Neixiyan (EX-LE40), Dubi (ST35), Heding (EX-LE2), Liangqiu (ST34), Xuehai (SP10), Zusanli (ST36) and Ashi-point on the affected side of the body were punctured with filiform needles	Moxibustion applied to surrounding area of affected joint for 60 min	Once daily for 4 weeks	Therapeutic effect	NA
Chen et al., 2020	China	28	28	RCT	Neixiyan (EX-LE40), Dubi (ST35), Heding (EX-LE2), Liangqiu (ST34), Xuehai (SP10), Zusanli (ST36) and Ashi-point on the affected side of the body for 30 mihns	Moxibustion at knee for 60 min	Once every 2 days for 4 weeks	Therapeutic effect	NA
Gao et al., 2012	China	35	34	RCT	Acupoints for electric acupuncture	2 moxacones (warm needling moxibustion) at each acupoint	Three times a week for 4 weeks	Therapeutic effect, pain	WOMAC
Huang et al., 2013	China	41	39	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion for 30 min	Twice every week 24 times for 1 session	Therapeutic effect, pain	ISOA
Jianjun et al., 2018	China	30	28	RCT	Twirling and tonifying method at acupoints	Acupuncture plus wheat grain moxibustion (performed 1 h after acupuncture	Once a day for 2 sessions	Therapeutic effect	NA
Jie et al., 2006	China	120	120	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion	Once every 2 days 5 times for 2 sessions	Therapeutic effect	NA
Kuang et al., 2006	China	50	50	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion	Twice every 2 days 10 times for 3 sessions	Therapeutic effect	NA
Li et al., 2011	China	32	30	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion for 20 min	Twice every week, 16 times for 2 sessions	Therapeutic effect, pain	ISOA
Lu et al., 2013	China	27	27	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion	Three times a week 12 times for 1 session	Pain	VAS
Lu et al., 2018	China	30	28	RCT	Neixiyan (EX-LE40), Dubi (ST35), Heding (EX-LE2), Liangqiu (ST34), Xuehai (SP10), Zusanli (ST36) and Ashi-point on the affected side of the body were punctured with filiform needles	Acupuncture + Moxibustion with seed sized moxa cones	Once a day for 20 days	Therapeutic effect	NA
Su et al., 2012	China	35	35	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion	Twice a week 4 times for 2 sessions	Therapeutic effect	NA
Tao et al., 2013	China	32	34	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion for 30 min	Twice every 2 days 12 times for 1 session	Therapeutic effect, pain	WOMAC
Wang et al., 2015	China	39	39	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion for 20 min s	Once daily 14 times for 1 session	Therapeutic effect	NA
Wu et al., 2014	China	31	30	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion	Three times every week 10 times for 3 sessions	Therapeutic effect, pain	VAS
Zeng et al., 2008	China	73	56	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion	Twice a week 4 times for 2 sessions	Therapeutic effect	NA
Zhang et al., 2010	China	32	30	RCT	Xuehai (SP10) and Shenshu (BL23)	Acupuncture + non-scarring moxibustion	2 sessions	Therapeutic effect, pain	VAS
Zhang et al., 2013	China	33	34	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion for 30 min	Three times a week 12 times for 1 session	Therapeutic effect, pain	WOMAC
Zheng et al., 2017	China	30	30	RCT	Liangqiu, Xuehai, Dubi, Neixeyan, Yanglingquan, Zusanli, Yinlingquan, Sanyinjiao, Xuanzhong and Taichong on the affected side	Ginger-partitioned moxibustion at the affected-side Heding point;	Once a day for 20 days	Therapeutic effect, pain	VAS
Zhou et al., 2014	China	39	44	RCT	Electric acupuncture	Moxibustion	NR	Pain	VAS
Zhu et al., 2010	China	56	42	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion for 30 min	Three times a week 6 times for 2 sessions	Therapeutic effect	NA
Zhu et al., 2013	China	33	30	RCT	Filiform needle acupuncture	Fire needle moxibustion for 30 min	Twice every week 12 times for 1 session	Therapeutic effect	NA

NR-Not reported; NA-Not appliable; RCT-Randomized controlled trial; VAS-Visual Analog Scale; WOMAC- Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index; ISOA-Index of Severity of the Osteoarthritis.